COLUMBUS, OHIO

Although Columbus is the capital of Ohio, it only has a minor league ball team, while its Ohio counterparts, Cleveland and Cincinnati, are able to field major league teams. The population of Columbus is actually greater than both Cleveland and Cincinnati, but Columbus lacks a metropolitan area the size of the other two, which is why it will remain a minor league town, at least where baseball is concerned.

The capitol building in downtown Columbus

Having said that, Columbus may be the best known minor league town in the country. Home to the Columbus Clippers, the Yankees AAA franchise, Columbus has been the temporary home to some of the best-known Yankee stars of the 80's and 90's. As well, the Clippers have put together a Yankee-like championship record, with 7 league championships in their 25 year history.

Columbus also lays claim to a number of baseball firsts, such as home of the first concession stand in 1887, where umpires first used hand signals in 1883, and birthplace of minor league baseball with the formation of the International Association in 1877.

Of course, there is much more to Columbus than baseball: the city is home to the NHL's expansion Columbus Blue Jackets, who began play in the 2000-2001 season.  And there is the state capitol building, the Rhodes State Office Tower (across Broad St from the capitol) which has a 40th floor observation deck amongst a number of offices, and the Topiary Garden, which is shrubbery sculpted as a replica of a famous painting by George Seurat.

Two figures from the Topiary Garden

Columbus is definitely a place worth visiting for more than baseball, it has all the attractions of any other major city, and is conveniently located close to Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, so any baseball tour in this area could easily include Columbus and the Clippers.